Councillors Leanne Stevenson, Jake Chandler, Marco Di Pinto, Zoe Smith and Oladapo Ibitoye spent Sunday 16th August volunteering at the Ukrainian community garden at St Philip’s allotments in Upper Stratton.
Work included finishing the site’s polytunnel, weeding paths and growing beds, and carrying out maintenance during the summer growing season.
Councillors Stevenson and Chandler, who are both experienced allotment growers, also shared gardening knowledge with Ukrainian families who look after the plots.
They discussed what can be successfully planted and grown, as well as how the allotment can be used throughout the seasons.
The project, called Putting Down Roots, began more than two years ago to provide Ukrainian families living in Swindon with their own community growing space thanks to Stratton St Margaret Parish Council.
The project comes against a backdrop of huge demand for allotments across Swindon. Recent Swindon24 research found South Swindon Parish Council alone manages 584 plots across 14 sites, with two further sites set to take provision to around 604 plots, yet its waiting list stands at more than 400 people.
Haydon Wick Parish Council also has waiting lists and is exploring a fourth allotment site in Oakhurst, while some parts of the borough, including St Andrews, have no statutory allotment provision at all.
About the Ukrainian community garden Councillor Jake Chandler said:
“Providing spaces like this for the community to use and bring empty allotments back into use is so inspiring, happy to lend a hand!”
Last year, a team of ten volunteers from UKRI’s Arts and Humanities Research Council helped clear paths, paint raised beds and add compost ahead of the growing season.
Swindon Welcomes Ukraine chair Annastasiia Banatska previously said gardening offered a connection to the lives many Ukrainians had before they were forced to leave their country.
“Working with the soil, growing vegetables, these are things many of us did at home in Ukraine,” she said.
“Having this garden helps us feel connected to that part of our lives. It brings comfort, especially in such uncertain times.”
Councillor Stevenson has previously volunteered at the allotment and spoken about her support for Swindon Welcomes Ukraine and the Borough of Sanctuary.
“As a Parish Councillor, I see it as our duty to offer stability and belonging,” she said.
“Working alongside everyone showed just how powerful collaboration can be in creating a garden that’s both beautiful and self-sustaining.”
Volunteers also got to sample produce from the allotment following Sunday’s work.
Beetroot harvested from the site was taken by The Core owner Kris Talikowski, who is also vice-chair of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine. It was freshly juiced before being returned to the allotment for the volunteers to drink.
The gardening session took place ahead of UkraineFest, which returns to Town Gardens this Saturday 22nd August from 12pm until 7pm.
The free festival will feature Ukrainian music, dance, food, arts, crafts and family activities.
More than 4,000 people attended last year’s event, with organisers believing this year’s festival could become the UK’s largest Ukrainian Independence Day celebration.
It comes as Swindon moves towards formally twinning with the Ukrainian city of Rivne.
Rivne’s mayor and civic representatives visited Swindon in June, before Swindon Borough Council’s Town Twinning Committee unanimously recommended entering into a twinning agreement with the city.
